The gift

His lips curved into a smile as Huo Zenghai walked over with a little box in his hands. He handed the neatly wrapped box to Xia, hugged him and muttered, "Happy Birthday brother."

Xia laughed as he hugged him back. "Who gave you permission to roam around during office hours?" he asked playfully.

Huo Zenghai also laughed as he began to lead Xia towards the elevator and said, "I knew you would come up directly. Now come on, everyone's waiting to wish you. They all got this for you, the least you could do is show them your face."

Xia smiled as he looked at the box in his hands. Every year, everyone in the company chipped in to buy him a present. The present would usually be something very expensive and very classy. Last year it had been a limited edition watch and belt, worth hundreds of thousands of yen.

But the Si Corporation had a lot of employees, all of them paid very well. So they didn't mind chipping in extra for their boss's present.

Huo Zenghai, of course got him another present every year, along with some of the other employees. These very usually less expensive and more thoughtful.

Si Xia played with the box in his hands as the elevator made it's descent. "So, what's the plan this year? Same place?" Huo Zenghai asked.

Xia shrugged as he said, "That's what I planned on, but Chen's busy."

"On your birthday! That's so unfair!!" Zenghai whined as Xia shrugged. "It's fine. Not that big of a deal anyways." he said.

"Not that big of a deal? Come on. You have to do something. How about a drink with the boys?" Huo Zenghai asked, excited.

Si Xia shook his head. He was in no mood to celebrate his birthday, not without Chen. "Some other day." he replied. Zenghai was about to protest, but his words were cut off by the elevator door opening, they had reached the ground floor.

"President Si, our boss. Ladies and gentlemen." Huo Zenghai said, stepping out of the elevator and motioning for Si Xia to walk out.

Xia rolled his eyes at the over acting, but went along with it anyways. He stepped out as everyone who had gathered in the main lobby began cheering and clapping, and a collective shout of "Happy Birthday President Si." ring out.

Si Xia threw out a few general thank yous before Huo Zenghai with most of the senior managers walked over and one of them said, "Come on, open the present Mr. Si."

Si Xia fixed a smile on his face as he unwrapped the little box and opened it. After one look inside, Si Xia looked up. He opened his mouth, but seemed to be lost for words. "See, I told you I could get him speechless." Huo Zenghai called out and everyone laughed.

Xia had composed himself by the time the laughter subsided. He bowed to everyone and said, "Thank you all. Thank you so much."

A thunder of clap went through the whole lobby as the CFO, Mrs. Wang, walked forward and said, "Do you like it?"

"Yes. Of course." Si Xia replied, "But how did you . . . . " he still seemed a bit confused and unable to put words together.